Translating equipment rack system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method comprising a rack and a translation mechanism. The rack may be configured to hold components. The rack may comprise movable rack segments that are movable independently of each other. The translation mechanism may be configured to move a portion of the movable rack segments relative to another portion of the movable rack segments inside a platform such that internal access to at least a portion of the components is provided inside the platform.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present disclosure is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/102,265, entitled: “Translating Equipment Rack System”, filed May6, 2011, assigned to the same assignee and incorporated herein byreference; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/102,265 is related tothe following patent application entitled: “Translating Equipment RackSystem”, Ser. No. 12/985,033, filed Jan. 5, 2011, assigned to the sameassignee and incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1. Field

The present disclosure relates generally to equipment and, inparticular, to packaging equipment. Still more particularly, the presentdisclosure relates to a method and apparatus for managing equipment indifferent locations in an aircraft.

2. Background

An equipment bay may be an area within an aircraft in which equipment,such as, for example, without limitation, electrical equipment, powerdistribution equipment, computers, and other suitable components may beinstalled. The equipment bay may take the form of an avionics bay orelectronics equipment bay.

The equipment bay may be located, without limitation, below the flightdeck, behind the flight deck, and/or adjacent to a passenger or cargoarea inside of an aircraft. Equipment stored in an equipment bay may beaccessible through a passenger area, a cargo area, a hatch in the flightdeck area, and/or an external hatch on an aircraft.

Equipment in the electronic equipment bay may be placed in equipmentracks located in the electronic equipment bay. One or more aisles may beprovided between the equipment racks in the electronic equipment bay topermit maintenance personnel and other technicians to move throughoutthe electronic equipment bay and between the equipment racks and accessthe electronic equipment.

For example, without limitation, equipment racks in the equipment baymay be placed with the front of the racks facing a central aisle. Thecentral aisle may extend between the equipment racks. This central aislemay be used by maintenance personnel to access the equipment in theequipment racks. In-flight personnel may utilize one or more hatches inthe flight deck or cabin areas to gain access to the equipment in theequipment bay during a flight of the aircraft.

In addition, one or more outboard aisles may connect the central aisleto an external hatch. This hatch may provide a point of access to theequipment bay for ground crew personnel. The ground crew personnel mayutilize the external hatch to enter the electronic bay and proceed downthe aisles to access the equipment in the equipment racks. The groundcrew may access the equipment to perform installation, removal, and/ormaintenance of the equipment.

Space in the aircraft may be a valuable resource. In designing aircraft,space may be allocated to passenger areas, crew areas, cargo areas, andequipment bays. Currently used equipment bays in aircraft may use morespace in the aircraft than desired. In other words, spaces, such asequipment bays, may be reduced to allow for increases in spaces, such aspassenger areas and/or cargo areas.

When equipment bays are designed with less space, access to theequipment bays through aisles may be reduced. This reduction may resultin more time and effort needed for equipment maintenance. Further,equipment maintenance may also take more time and effort in a presenceof varying sizes and depths of the individual electronic componentsstored in the equipment bays.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a method and apparatus thattakes into account one or more of the issues discussed above, as well asother possible issues.

SUMMARY

In one advantageous embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a rack and atranslation mechanism. The rack may be configured to hold components.The rack may comprise movable rack segments that are movableindependently of each other. The translation mechanism may be configuredto move a portion of the movable rack segments relative to anotherportion of the movable rack segments inside a platform such thatinternal access to at least a portion of the components is providedinside the platform.

In another advantageous embodiment, an equipment access system for anaircraft may comprise a rack, a translation mechanism, a connectorsystem, and a structure. The rack may be located in an equipment bayinside the aircraft and may be configured to hold components. The rackmay comprise movable rack segments that are movable independently ofeach other in the rack. The translation mechanism may be located in theequipment bay inside the aircraft. The translation mechanism may beconfigured to move a portion of the movable rack segments relative toanother portion of the movable rack segments. The portion of the movablerack segments may be moved into another area inside the aircraft otherthan the equipment bay such that internal access to at least a portionof the components is provided inside the aircraft, and external accessto the at least the portion of the components is provided outside of theaircraft. The translation mechanism may comprise at least one of wheels,tracks, rollers, sliders, arms, rails, hinges, pivot points, and jointsassociated with the rack and a number of actuators. The number ofactuators may be connected to the movable rack segments and configuredto move the movable rack segments. The connector system may be attachedto the movable rack segments and configured to remain connected to themovable rack segments when the portion of the movable rack segments ismoved into the another area inside the aircraft other than the equipmentbay. The structure may be associated with the rack. The structure may beconfigured to separate the equipment bay in which the rack is locatedfrom the another area in the aircraft such that the structure provides abarrier configured to prevent cargo in the other another area frommoving into the equipment bay. The structure may comprise parts in whicheach part is associated with a movable rack segment in the movable racksegments.

In yet another advantageous embodiment, a method may be provided foraccessing components inside a platform. A portion of the components forwhich internal access is desired may be identified. A rack may beconfigured to hold the components and may comprise movable rack segmentsthat are movable independently of each other in the rack. A portion ofthe movable rack segments may be moved inside the platform such that theinternal access to at least the portion of the components identified isprovided inside the platform.

In still yet another advantageous embodiment, a method may be providedfor accessing components inside an aircraft. A portion of the componentsfor which internal access is desired may be identified. A rack locatedin an equipment bay in the aircraft may be configured to hold thecomponents. The rack may comprise movable rack segments that are movableindependently of each other in the rack. A structure associated with therack may be configured to separate the equipment bay in which the rackis located from another area in a platform and provide a barrierconfigured to prevent cargo in the another area from moving into theequipment bay. A portion of the movable rack segments may be moved fromthe equipment bay into the another area inside the aircraft other thanthe equipment bay such that the internal access to at least the portionof the components identified is provided in the another area inside theaircraft.

The features, functions, and advantages can be achieved independently invarious embodiments of the present disclosure or may be combined in yetother embodiments in which further details can be seen with reference tothe following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the advantageousembodiments are set forth in the appended claims. The advantageousembodiments, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, furtherobjectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by referenceto the following detailed description of an advantageous embodiment ofthe present disclosure when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an aircraft manufacturing and servicemethod in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an aircraft in which an advantageousembodiment may be implemented;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a block diagram of an equipment accessenvironment in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a block diagram of an aircraft in which anequipment access environment may be present in accordance with anadvantageous embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an aircraft in which an equipment accessenvironment may be present in accordance with an advantageousembodiment;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a side cross-sectional view of an aircraftin accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of one configuration for a rack in atranslating rack system in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a portion of an aircraft in a top-exposedview in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a different type of movement of a movablerack segment in a rack in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a different type of movement of a movablerack segment in a rack in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a different type of movement of a movablerack segment in a rack in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a different type of movement of a movablerack segment in a rack in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a translatingrack system in an equipment bay in accordance with an advantageousembodiment;

FIG. 14 is an illustration of another configuration for a rack in atranslating rack system in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 15 is an illustration of a translating rack system in an equipmentbay in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 16 is an illustration of a different type of movement of a movablerack segment in a rack in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 17 is an illustration of a different type of movement of a movablerack segment in a rack in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 18 is an illustration of a different type of movement of a movablerack segment in a rack in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 19 is an illustration of a different type of movement of a movablerack segment in a rack in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 20 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a translatingrack system in an equipment bay in accordance with an advantageousembodiment;

FIG. 21 is an illustration of a cross-sectional side view of atranslating rack system in an equipment bay of an aircraft in accordancewith an advantageous embodiment;

FIG. 22 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a translatingrack system in an equipment bay in accordance with an advantageousembodiment; and

FIG. 23 is an illustration of a flowchart of a process for accessingcomponents in accordance with an advantageous embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more particularly to the drawings, embodiments of thedisclosure may be described in the context of aircraft manufacturing andservice method 100 as shown in FIG. 1 and aircraft 200 as shown in FIG.2. Turning first to FIG. 1, an illustration of an aircraft manufacturingand service method is depicted in accordance with an advantageousembodiment. During pre-production, aircraft manufacturing and servicemethod 100 may include specification and design 102 of aircraft 200 inFIG. 2 and material procurement 104.

During production, component and subassembly manufacturing 106 andsystem integration 108 of aircraft 200 in FIG. 2 may take place.Thereafter, aircraft 200 in FIG. 2 may go through certification anddelivery 110 in order to be placed in service 112. While in service 112by a customer, aircraft 200 in FIG. 2 may be scheduled for routinemaintenance and service 114, which may include modification,reconfiguration, refurbishment, and other maintenance or service.

Each of the processes of aircraft manufacturing and service method 100may be performed or carried out by a system integrator, a third party,and/or an operator. In these examples, the operator may be a customer.For the purposes of this description, a system integrator may include,without limitation, any number of aircraft manufacturers andmajor-system subcontractors; a third party may include, withoutlimitation, any number of venders, subcontractors, and suppliers; and anoperator may be an airline, a leasing company, a military entity, aservice organization, and so on.

With reference now to FIG. 2, an illustration of an aircraft is depictedin which an advantageous embodiment may be implemented. In this example,aircraft 200 may be produced by aircraft manufacturing and servicemethod 100 in FIG. 1 and may include airframe 202 with plurality ofsystems 204 and interior 206. Examples of systems 204 may include one ormore of propulsion system 208, electrical system 210, hydraulic system212, environmental system 214, and translating rack system 216. Anynumber of other systems may be included. Although an aerospace exampleis shown, different advantageous embodiments may be applied to otherindustries, such as the automotive industry.

Apparatuses and methods embodied herein may be employed during at leastone of the stages of aircraft manufacturing and service method 100 inFIG. 1. As used herein, the phrase “at least one of”, when used with alist of items, means that different combinations of one or more of thelisted items may be used and only one of each item in the list may beneeded. For example, “at least one of item A, item B, and item C” mayinclude, for example, without limitation, item A, or item A and item B.This example also may include item A, item B, and item C or item B anditem C.

In one illustrative example, components or subassemblies produced incomponent and subassembly manufacturing 106 in FIG. 1 may be fabricatedor manufactured in a manner similar to components or subassembliesproduced while aircraft 200 is in service 112 in FIG. 1. As yet anotherexample, a number of apparatus embodiments, method embodiments, or acombination thereof may be utilized during production stages, such ascomponent and subassembly manufacturing 106 and system integration 108in FIG. 1. A number, when referring to items, means one or more items.For example, a number of apparatus embodiments may be one or moreapparatus embodiments. A number of apparatus embodiments, methodembodiments, or a combination thereof may be utilized while aircraft 200is in service 112 and/or during maintenance and service 114 in FIG. 1.The use of a number of the different advantageous embodiments maysubstantially expedite the assembly and/or reduce the cost of aircraft200.

The different advantageous embodiments recognize and take into account anumber of different considerations. For example, the differentadvantageous embodiments recognize and take into account that with thespace in an aircraft being a limited resource, it may be desirable tooptimize the use of space for payloads that may generate revenues. Forexample, the different advantageous embodiments recognize and take intoaccount that it may be desirable to increase the amount of space forpassenger areas and cargo areas as compared to crew areas and equipmentbays.

The different advantageous embodiments recognize and take into accountthat in using equipment racks with aisles in an equipment bay, theamount of space for the equipment bay may be greater than desired. Thedifferent advantageous embodiments recognize and take into account thatthe use of aisles in an equipment bay may increase the amount of spacefor the equipment bay in addition to the space used by the equipmentracks. The different advantageous embodiments also recognize and takeinto account that in currently-used equipment bays, the design of theracks and the aisles may not be as ergonomic as desired for personnel toaccess the equipment in the equipment bays.

For example, the different advantageous embodiments also recognize andtake into account that in some cases, an equipment bay may only beaccessed through one access aisle. When access is only provided throughone access aisle, all portions of an equipment rack may not be able tobe accessed. Without access to all portions of the equipment rack, allstorage space for components may not be able to be used. As a result,loading efficiency in the equipment bay may not be as high as desiredwith currently-used designs for equipment bays having one aisle foraccess to the equipment bay.

Further, the different advantageous embodiments recognize and take intoaccount that providing external access to an equipment bay may requirepressurized hatches and/or specialized safety systems, which mayincrease the weight of and/or expense for the aircraft.

Thus, the different advantageous embodiments provide an apparatus andmethod for providing internal access to components in an equipment bay.In one advantageous embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a rack and atranslation mechanism. The rack may be configured to hold components.The rack may comprise movable rack segments that are movableindependently of each other in the rack. The translation mechanism maybe configured to move a portion of the movable rack segments inside aplatform such that internal access to at least a portion of thecomponents is provided inside the platform.

With reference now to FIG. 3, an illustration of a block diagram of anequipment access environment is depicted in accordance with anadvantageous embodiment. In this depicted example, equipment accessenvironment 300 may be implemented in platform 302. Platform 302 maytake various forms. For example, platform 302 may be implemented usingaircraft 200 in FIG. 2.

In this illustrative example, platform 302 may be subdivided into areas304. At least a portion of areas 304 may take the form of compartments306. Compartments 306 may be areas within areas 304 that may bepartitioned off from other areas in areas 304 using structures 308.Structures 308 may be, for example, without limitation, walls,bulkheads, and/or other suitable structures.

For example, without limitation, compartments 306 may include number ofequipment bays 310. In one illustrative example, equipment bay 312within number of equipment bays 310 may be an example of one type ofcompartment in compartments 306. Equipment bay 312 may have translatingrack system 314. Translating rack system 314 may be an example of asystem used to implement translating rack system 216 in aircraft 200 inFIG. 2.

In these illustrative examples, translating rack system 314 may comprisenumber of racks 316 and number of translation mechanisms 318. Rack 320may be a rack within number of racks 316 and may be configured to holdcomponents 322. Components 322 may include, for example, withoutlimitation, equipment 323 for platform 302. In some advantageousembodiments, equipment 323 may include, for example, without limitation,electronic equipment and/or electrical equipment that is modular.

Rack 320 also may comprise rack segments 321. Rack segments 321 aresegments of rack 320 and, in this illustrative example, are notcomponents within components 322. Each of rack segments 321 may haveframe 325 configured to hold various components within components 322.In other words, frame 325 for each of rack segments 321 may provide aframework to support components 322 held within rack 320. In someillustrative examples, frame 325 may be a mounting frame to whichcomponents 322 may be mounted. In other illustrative examples, frame 325may comprise a number of shelves, trays, pins, holders, hangers, hooks,and/or other supports configured to hold components 322.

In these illustrative examples, rack segments 321 may include movablerack segments 324 that may be movable independently of each other withinrack 320. Each movable rack segment of movable rack segments 324 may bean actual part of rack 320. Number of translation mechanisms 318 may beconfigured to move a portion of movable rack segments 324 located insideplatform 302 relative to another portion of movable rack segments 324.Number of translation mechanisms 318 may be implemented using any numberof devices and/or systems that may move movable rack segments 324 insideof platform 302. Number of translation mechanisms 318 may be configuredto move movable rack segments 324 individually with respect to eachother.

In these depicted examples, translation mechanism 326 is an example ofone of number of translation mechanisms 318. Translation mechanism 326may be configured to move portion 328 of movable rack segments 324.Translation mechanism 326 may comprise motor system 327 and number ofmovement devices 329. Number of movement devices 329 may be associatedwith rack 320 and may be configured to facilitate movement of movablerack segments 324.

A first component may be considered to be associated with a secondcomponent by being secured to the second component, bonded to the secondcomponent, welded to the second component, fastened to the secondcomponent, and/or connected to the second component in some othersuitable manner. The first component also may be connected to the secondcomponent using a third component. The first component also may beconsidered to be associated with the second component by being formed aspart of and/or an extension of the second component.

In these illustrative examples, motor system 327 may be configured togenerate motion for number of movement devices 329 in a manner thatmoves movable rack segments 324. Motor system 327 may take variousforms. For example, without limitation, motor system 327 may comprise atleast one of an actuator, an electrical motor, a hydraulic motor, andother suitable types of motors. In yet another illustrative example,motor system 327 may utilize a human operator and may comprise a handcrank, a manually-powered hand hoist system, and/or another suitabledevice.

Number of movement devices 329 may include devices configured tofacilitate movement of movable rack segments 324 in rack 320. Forexample, without limitation, number of movement devices 329 may includeat least one of a rail system, a number of rails, rollers, sliders,arms, wheels, tracks, a track system, hinges, pivot points, joints,and/or a re-circulating screwball jack.

As another illustrative example, translation mechanism 326 may comprisethe hands of one or more human operators that may push and/or pullmovable rack segments 324, a number of structures that may bemanipulated by a human operator to push and/or pull movable racksegments 324, rails along which a human operator may push and/or pullmovable rack segments 324, and/or some other suitable system for a humanoperator to move movable rack segments 324.

The movement of portion 328 of movable rack segments 324 by translationmechanism 326 inside platform 302 may be such that internal access 330may be provided to portion 332 of components 322 inside platform 302.Portion 332 may be the portion of components 322 that is held withinportion 328 of movable rack segments 324 of rack 320. In other words,operator 334 may access portion 332 of components 322 while being insideof platform 302. In this manner, internal access 330 may allow operator334 to access portion 332 of components 322 without having to moveportion 332 of components 322 or portion 328 of movable rack segments324 outside of platform 302.

For example, without limitation, movement of portion 328 of movable racksegments 324 may move portion 328 of movable rack segments 324 fromequipment bay 312 into area 336 within areas 304 in platform 302. Area336 may be, for example, without limitation, a cargo area, a passengerarea, a crew area, or some other suitable type of area within platform302. Additionally, the movement of portion 328 of movable rack segments324 may not move portion 328 outside of platform 302 in theseillustrative examples.

In some advantageous embodiments, structure 338 within structures 308may be associated with rack 320. For example, without limitation,structure 338 may be connected to movable rack segments 324 of rack 320.In these illustrative examples, structure 338 may comprise parts 346.Each part in parts 346 may be associated with a rack segment withinmovable rack segments 324 of rack 320.

Structure 338 may be used to define equipment bay 312 and/or cargo area340 within compartments 306. For example, without limitation, structure338 may provide a separation between components 322 held in rack 320 inequipment bay 312 and cargo 344 in cargo area 340. Further, structure338 may be barrier structure 342 configured to prevent cargo 344 incargo area 340 from moving into equipment bay 312. In other words,barrier structure 342 may be a barrier between cargo 344 in cargo area340 and equipment bay 312.

In addition, in some advantageous embodiments, rack segments 321 mayinclude fixed rack segment 348 in addition to movable rack segments 324.Fixed rack segment 348 may be configured to hold some of components 322.Fixed rack segment 348 may not be movable inside platform 302. With thistype of implementation, movable rack segments 324 may move relative tofixed rack segment 348. As a result, movement of portion 328 of movablerack segments 324 is such that internal access 330 may be provided to atleast portion 332 of components 322 held by at least one of fixed racksegment 348 and movable rack segments 324 inside of platform 302.

With translating rack system 314, internal access 330 may be provided tocomponents 322 without needing additional doors in platform 302.External access 355 may be needed for some of components 322. Externalaccess 355 may be provided through number of doors 357 that may bepresent for other purposes other than providing external access 355.

For example, without limitation, number of doors 357 may open into cargoarea 340 and may provide for movement of cargo 344 in cargo area 340onto and off of platform 302 in addition to providing external access355. In particular, when portion 328 of movable rack segments 324 ismoved into cargo area 340, number of doors 357 may provide externalaccess 355 to portion 332 of components 322 in cargo area 340.

In the different illustrative examples, translating rack system 314 alsomay include connector system 351. Connector system 351 may provide aconnection to rack 320. In particular, connector system 351 may providepower, coolant, communications, and/or other suitable items to rack 320.Components 322 may be connected to connector system 351 through rack320. In some illustrative examples, components 322 may be connecteddirectly to connector system 351.

For example, without limitation, connector system 351 may comprise rackattachment cable 350. Rack attachment cable 350 may be a transportmechanism for transporting data, electricity, or cooling lines throughrack 320. Rack attachment cable 350 may be a flexible, semi-flexible, orrigid cable.

Rack attachment cable 350 may connect rack 320 with one or more sourcesof power, data, or cooling mediums located within platform 302. Forexample, without limitation, rack attachment cable 350 may be a cablethrough which additional cables may run.

Rack attachment cable 350 may include cable disconnects 352. Cabledisconnects 352 may allow rack attachment cable 350 to be quicklydisconnected from platform 302 to allow fast removal of rack 320 fromplatform 302.

Rack attachment cable 350 may include set of data cables 354, set ofpower cables 356, and/or set of cooling lines 358. “A set”, as usedherein, means one or more items. For example, a set of cables may meanone or more cables. Set of data cables 354 may be one or more cables fortransmitting input and/or output to and from components 322 held in rack320.

Set of power cables 356 may be cables delivering electric power to rack320 and/or components 322 held in rack 320. Set of cooling lines 358 maybe lines carrying coolant, water, and/or air for controlling orconditioning a temperature of electronic devices in components 322. Thecontrolling or conditioning of the temperature may be, for example,without limitation, lowering the temperature of the electronic devices,maintaining the temperature of the electronic devices within a range oftemperatures, and/or some other type of controlling or conditioning ofthe temperature.

In some advantageous embodiments, frame 325 may have core 361. Core 361may be, for example, without limitation, a metallic core that is hollowto allow rack attachment cable 350 to be installed within core 361.Running rack attachment cable 350 through core 361 may provideadditional protection to rack attachment cable 350 from undesiredeffects due to factors external to rack attachment cable 350.

In other advantageous embodiments, rack 320 holding components 322 maybe covered by shroud 359. Shroud 359 may be attached to rack 320, one ormore of structures 308, and/or platform 302 to enclose and/orenvironmentally protect components 322 when components 322 are beingaccessed externally.

Shroud 359 may be, for example, without limitation, flexible,electrically conductive, and/or electrically grounded to platform 302 toprovide components 322 held in rack 320 electromagnetic energyprotection, such as, for example, without limitation, shieldingprotection.

In this manner, translating rack system 314 with structure 338 forms anequipment access system that provides internal access 330 and/orexternal access 355 to equipment bay 312.

The illustration of equipment access environment 300 in FIG. 3 is notmeant to imply physical or architectural limitations to the manner inwhich different advantageous embodiments may be implemented. Othercomponents in addition to and/or in place of the ones illustrated may beused. Some components may be unnecessary in some advantageousembodiments. Also, the blocks are presented to illustrate somefunctional components. One or more of these blocks may be combinedand/or divided into different blocks when implemented in differentadvantageous embodiments.

For example, platform 302 has been described as taking the form ofaircraft 200 in FIG. 2. In some advantageous embodiments, platform 302may take other forms. For example, without limitation, platform 302 maybe selected from one of a mobile platform, a stationary platform, aland-based structure, an aquatic-based structure, a space-basedstructure, a surface ship, a tank, a personnel carrier, a train, aspacecraft, a space station, a submarine, or some other suitable type ofplatform.

As another illustrative example, a number of additional equipment baysmay be present in addition to equipment bay 312 in platform 302. Some orall of these additional equipment bays also may include additionaltranslating rack systems in addition to translating rack system 314 inequipment bay 312. Further, translating rack system 314 may be in otherareas other than equipment bay 312, depending on the particularimplementation. For example, translating rack system 314 may be locatedin cargo area 340 and may hold at least one of tools, cargo, parts,and/or other suitable items.

In still other illustrative examples, translating rack system 314 mayinclude features in addition to the features described above. Forexample, without limitation, translating rack system 314 may includecold plate 360. Cold plate 360 may be used within rack 320 for cooling.As one specific example, cold plate 360 may be configured to remove heatby convection. Cold plate 360 may use liquid as the means to transportthe heat away from components 322.

With reference now to FIG. 4, an illustration of a block diagram of anaircraft in which an equipment access environment may be present isdepicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. In thisillustrative example, aircraft 400 may be an example of oneimplementation for aircraft 200 in FIG. 2 and platform 302 in FIG. 3, inwhich equipment access environment 300 may be provided.

In this illustrative example, aircraft 400 may have number of wings 402attached to fuselage 404. Number of equipment bays 406 may be locatedinside interior 408 of fuselage 404 of aircraft 400. In someillustrative examples, space 410 available for storing equipment 412 ineach of number of equipment bays 406 may be determined by shape 414and/or size 415 of interior 408 of fuselage 404.

Additionally, cargo area 416 may also be located inside interior 408 offuselage 404. Space 418 available for storing cargo 420 in cargo area416 may also be determined by shape 414 and/or size 415 of interior 408of fuselage 404.

In this illustrative example, cargo area 416 and number of equipmentbays 406 may be located in cargo deck 419 inside interior 408 offuselage 404. Further, in this illustrative example, aircraft 400 mayhave number of doors 421. Number of doors 421 may allow an operator (notshown) outside of fuselage 404 to access equipment 412 and/or cargo 420stored in cargo deck 419.

As depicted, number of translating rack systems 422 may be located innumber of equipment bays 406. For example, number of translating racksystems 422 may include first translating rack system 424 located inequipment bay 426 in number of equipment bays 406 and second translatingrack system 428 located in equipment bay 430 in number of equipment bays406.

In this illustrative example, each of number of translating rack systems422 may be implemented using translating rack system 314 from FIG. 3.Further, each of number of translating rack systems 422 may beconfigured to hold equipment 412 in a manner that allows access todifferent portions of equipment 412 in number of equipment bays 406.

Further, barrier stops 432 may also be present in number of equipmentbays 406. Barrier stops 432 may limit movement of equipment 412 held bynumber of translating rack systems 422 into cargo area 416. Further,barrier stops 432 may also prevent cargo 420 from entering number ofequipment bays 406.

With reference now to FIG. 5, an illustration of an aircraft in which anequipment access environment may be present is depicted in accordancewith an advantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, aircraft500 may be an example of one implementation for aircraft 400 in FIG. 4and is not meant to imply physical or architecture limitations to themanner in which an advantageous embodiment may be implemented.

In this illustrative example, aircraft 500 may have wing 502 and wing504 attached to fuselage 506. Aircraft 500 also may have engine 510mounted on wing 502 and engine 512 mounted on wing 504. Equipment bay514 and equipment bay 516 may be located inside aircraft 500 and, inparticular, inside fuselage 506 in these illustrative examples. In thesedifferent illustrative examples, translating rack system 520 may belocated inside equipment bay 514, and translating rack system 522 may belocated inside equipment bay 516.

In the different illustrative examples, translating rack system 520 andtranslating rack system 522 may be examples of number of translatingrack systems 422 in aircraft 400 in FIG. 4.

With reference now to FIG. 6, an illustration of a side cross-sectionalview of aircraft 500 is depicted in accordance with an advantageousembodiment. In this illustrative example, a side cross-sectional view ofaircraft 500 may be shown taken along lines 6-6 in FIG. 5. As depicted,equipment bay 514 with translating rack system 520 and equipment bay 516with translating rack system 522 may be seen as being located on cargodeck 600 of aircraft 500. Cargo area 602 and cargo area 604 also may belocated on cargo deck 600 of aircraft 500.

With reference now to FIG. 7, an illustration of one configuration for arack in a translating rack system is depicted in accordance with anadvantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, configuration 700for rack 701 is an example of one implementation for a configuration fora rack for one of number of translating rack systems 422 in FIG. 4. Inparticular, configuration 700 for rack 701 may be an example of oneimplementation for a configuration for a rack for first translating racksystem 424 in equipment bay 426 in FIG. 4.

As depicted, with configuration 700, rack 701 may have movable racksegments 702. As one illustrative example, moveable rack segments 702may include first movable rack segment 704, second movable rack segment705, and third movable rack segment 706. Of course, in otherillustrative examples, movable rack segments 702 may include any numberof movable rack segments.

First movable rack segment 704 may be configured to hold first equipment708. Second movable rack segment 705 may be configured to hold secondequipment 710. Third movable rack segment 706 may be configured to holdthird equipment 712. First equipment 708, second equipment 710, andthird equipment 712 may be examples of equipment 412 in FIG. 4.

In this depicted example, movable rack segments 702 are present in firstlocations 714 in equipment bay 426 from FIG. 4. Movable rack segments702 may move away from first locations 714 independently of each otherby translation mechanism 716. Translation mechanism 716 may beimplemented using, for example, without limitation, translationmechanism 326 in FIG. 3.

For example, without limitation, any of movable rack segments 702 may bemoved from a location in first locations 714 to a location in secondlocations 718 in equipment bay 426 in FIG. 4. Movement of a particularmovable rack segment in movable rack segments 702 may provide internalaccess 720 to at least a portion of the equipment held by the particularmovable segment and/or various portions of equipment held by othermovable rack segments in movable rack segments 702.

Additionally, barrier structure 722 may be associated with rack 701 inthis depicted example. Barrier structure 722 may have parts 724. Each ofparts 724 may be associated with a movable rack segment in movable racksegments 702. Barrier structure 722 may provide a barrier between cargoarea 416 in FIG. 4 and equipment bay 426 in FIG. 4. In particular,barrier structure 722 may separate first equipment 708, second equipment710, and third equipment 712 held within rack 701 from cargo area 416 inFIG. 4.

With reference now to FIG. 8, an illustration of a portion of aircraft500 from FIG. 5 in a top-exposed view is depicted in accordance with anadvantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, a portion oftranslating rack system 520 from FIG. 5 is shown in equipment bay 514.In this illustrative example, translating rack system 520 may have rack800. Rack 800 may be an example of one implementation for rack 701 inFIG. 7. In particular, rack 800 may have configuration 700 in FIG. 7.

As depicted, rack 800 may have movable rack segments 802, 804, and 806.These rack segments may move independently of each other by atranslation mechanism, not shown in this example. In this depictedexample, movable rack segments 802, 804, and 806 are present inlocations 803, 805, and 807, respectively, in equipment bay 514.

As depicted, movable rack segment 802 may be configured to holdequipment 808. Movable rack segment 804 may be configured to holdequipment 810. Movable rack segment 806 may be configured to holdequipment 812. In this illustrative example, equipment 808, equipment810, and equipment 812 may be electronic and/or electrical equipment foraircraft 500.

Additionally, barrier structure 813 may be associated with rack 800 inthis depicted example. Barrier structure 813 may have, for example,without limitation, parts 814, 816, and 818. Part 814 may be associatedwith movable rack segment 802, part 816 may be associated with movablerack segment 804, and part 818 may be associated with movable racksegment 806. Barrier structure 813 may provide barrier 820 between cargoarea 602 and equipment bay 520. In particular, barrier structure 813 mayseparate equipment 808, equipment 810, and equipment 812 held withinrack 800 in equipment bay 514 from cargo area 602.

Further, in this illustrative example, an operator (not shown) mayaccess cargo area 602 through door 822 and door 824. Door 822 may belocated along wall 826 of fuselage 506. Door 824 may be located alongwall 828 of fuselage 506. In this manner, door 822 and door 824 mayprovide external access to any cargo (not shown) or other objects (notshown) located in cargo area 602.

Turning now to FIGS. 9-12, illustrations of different types of movementsof one or more of movable rack segments 802, 804, and 806 in rack 800from FIG. 8 are depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment.

In FIG. 9, movable rack segment 802 has been moved from location 803 inequipment bay 514 in the direction of arrow 900 into cargo area 602. Inparticular, movable rack segment 802 has been moved to location 901 incargo area 602.

With this movement of movable rack segment 802, access may be providedat side 904 and/or side 906 of movable rack segment 802. Internal accessto movable rack segment 802 and/or equipment 808 in movable rack segment802 may be provided at side 904 and/or side 906 of movable rack segment802 when movable rack segment 802 is moved into cargo area 602. In thismanner, when access is provided at or to at least one side of aparticular movable rack segment, access may be provided to theparticular movable rack segment and/or the equipment in the particularmovable rack segment.

Further, depending on distance 911 between movable rack segment 802 inlocation 901 and movable rack segment 804, movement of movable racksegment 802 may provide internal access at side 905 of movable racksegment 802 and/or side 912 of movable rack segment 804. For example,when distance 911 provides sufficient clearance for an operator, accessat side 905 of movable rack segment 802 and/or side 912 of movable racksegment 804 may be provided.

In this manner, movement of movable rack segment 802 may move movablerack segment 802 from equipment bay 514 into cargo area 602. Thismovement may provide access to movable rack segment 802, equipment 808in movable rack segment 802, movable rack segment 804, and/or equipment810 in movable rack segment 804. With this type of access, additionalspace and an additional external access hatch may not be needed forequipment bay 514.

For example, without limitation, cargo area 602 may provide space foraccessing movable rack segment 802 and/or equipment 808 in movable racksegment 802 when cargo is not present in the portion of cargo area 602to which movable rack segment 802 is moved. Cargo may not be present incargo area 602 when, for example, aircraft 500 is on the ground.

In some cases, external access may be provided to movable rack segment802 through door 822 in cargo area 602. For example, without limitation,external access may be provided, depending on distance 910 between wall826 of fuselage 506 of aircraft 500 and side 904 of movable rack segment802. When distance 910 does not provide sufficient clearance for anoperator to access movable rack segment 802 and/or equipment 808 inmovable rack segment 802 from within cargo area 602, external access maybe provided.

For example, without limitation, an operator may use door 822 to accessmovable rack segment 802 and/or equipment 808 held in movable racksegment 802 when distance 910 does not provide sufficient clearancebetween wall 826 of fuselage 506 of aircraft 500 and side 904 of movablerack segment 802. In other illustrative examples, external access may beprovided through the use of a hatch (not shown), an exterior panel (notshown), or some other suitable type of entrance to cargo area 602.

Turning now to FIG. 10, movable rack segment 804 has been moved fromlocation 805 in equipment bay 514 in the direction of arrow 1000 intocargo area 602. In particular, movable rack segment 804 may be moved tolocation 1001 in cargo area 602. Access to movable rack segment 804 andequipment 810 in movable rack segment 804 may be provided from side 912and/or side 1002 of movable rack segment 804. In these illustrativeexamples, this access may be internal access to movable rack segment804.

Further, when distance 1004 provides sufficient clearance for anoperator, internal access may be provided to side 1003 of movable racksegment 804, side 906 of movable rack segment 802, and/or side 1006 ofmovable rack segment 806.

In FIG. 11, movable rack segment 802 and movable rack segment 806 may bemoved from equipment bay 514 in the direction of arrow 1100 into cargoarea 602. As depicted, movable rack segment 802 may be moved fromlocation 803 in equipment bay 514 to location 901 in cargo area 602.Further, movable rack segment 806 may be moved from location 807 inequipment bay 514 to location 1104 in cargo area 602.

The movements of movable rack segment 802 and movable rack segment 806may provide access to side 904 and side 906 of movable rack segment 802and to side 1006 and side 1108 of movable rack segment 806.

In this illustrative example, internal access may be provided at side906 of movable rack segment 802 and side 1006 of movable rack segment806. Further, depending on distance 911 and/or distance 1112, internalaccess may also be provided to side 905 of movable rack segment 802,side 1111 of movable rack segment 806, side 912 of movable rack segment804, and/or side 1002 of movable rack segment 804.

Additionally, external access and/or internal access may be provided atside 904 of movable rack segment 802, depending on distance 910 asdiscussed before. In a similar fashion, if distance 1110 between wall828 of fuselage 506 and side 1108 of movable rack segment 806 does notprovide sufficient clearance for an operator to access movable racksegment 806 and/or equipment 812 held in movable rack segment 806,external access may be provided through door 824 in these illustrativeexamples.

In FIG. 12, movable rack segment 804 and movable rack segment 806 may bemoved from equipment bay 514 in the direction of arrow 1200 into cargoarea 602. In particular, movable rack segment 804 may be moved fromlocation 805 in equipment bay 514 to location 1001 in cargo area 602.Further, movable rack segment 806 may be moved from location 807 inequipment bay 514 to location 1104 in cargo area 602.

As depicted, when both movable rack segment 804 and movable rack segment806 are moved into cargo area 602, internal access may not be providedat side 1002 of movable rack segment 804 and/or side 1006 of movablerack segment 806. Internal access may be provided at side 912 of movablerack segment 804. Internal access may also be provided to side 1003 ofmovable rack segment 804, side 1111 of movable rack segment 806, and/orside 906 of movable rack segment 802, depending on distance 1004 and/ordistance 1112. Further, internal and/or external access may be providedat side 1108 of movable rack segment 806, depending on distance 1110 asdescribed above.

With reference now to FIG. 13, a cross-sectional view of a translatingrack system in an equipment bay is depicted in accordance with anadvantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, translating racksystem 520 in equipment bay 514 from FIGS. 5-12 is shown in across-sectional view taken along lines 13-13 in FIG. 8. In this view, aportion of translating rack system 520 is depicted. In particular,movable rack segments 802, 804, and 806 are illustrated in this view.

As depicted in this example, translating rack system 520 may includetranslation mechanism 1300. Translation mechanism 1300 may have numberof movement devices 1302. Number of movement devices 1302 may comprisewheels 1304, 1306, 1308, 1310, 1312, and 1314. Wheels 1304, 1306, 1308,1310, 1312, and 1314 may allow movable racks segments 802, 804, and 806to move on cargo floor 1305.

Wheel 1304 and wheel 1306 may be associated with movable rack segment802. Wheel 1308 and wheel 1310 may be associated with movable racksegment 804. Wheel 1312 and wheel 1314 may be associated with movablerack segment 806. Wheels 1304, 1306, 1308, 1310, 1312, and 1314 mayallow movable rack segments 802, 804, and 806 to move on cargo floor1305 of cargo deck 600 of aircraft 500.

Additionally, barrier stops 1316, 1318, 1320, 1322, 1324, 1326, 1328,1330, and 1332 may be present. Barrier stops 1316, 1318, 1320, 1322,1324, 1326, 1328, 1330, and 1332 may limit movement of movable racksegments 802, 804, and 806 into cargo area 602 in FIG. 8. Further,barrier stops 1316, 1318, 1320, 1322, 1324, 1326, 1328, 1330, and 1332may prevent cargo (not shown) that may be in cargo area 602 in FIG. 8from entering equipment bay 514.

As illustrated, barrier stops 1316, 1318, 1320, 1322, 1324, and 1326 maybe associated with ceiling 1334 of cargo deck 600. Barrier stops 1328,1330, and 1332 may be associated with cargo floor 1305 of cargo deck600.

The illustration of rack 800 in FIGS. 8-13 is an illustrative example ofa physical implementation for rack 701 shown in block form in FIG. 7.These illustrations are not meant to imply physical or architecturelimitations to the manner in which an advantageous embodiment may beimplemented. Other components in addition to and/or in place of the onesillustrated may be used. Some components may be unnecessary in someadvantageous embodiments. For example, in some advantageous embodiments,rack 800 may include a fixed rack segment.

With reference now to FIG. 14, an illustration of another configurationfor a rack in a translating rack system is depicted in accordance withan advantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, configuration1400 for rack 1401 is another example of one implementation for aconfiguration for a rack for one of number of translating rack systems422 in FIG. 4. In particular, configuration 1400 for rack 1401 may be anexample of one implementation for a configuration for a rack for firsttranslating rack system 424 in equipment bay 426 in FIG. 4.

As depicted, with configuration 1400, rack 1401 may have movable racksegments 1402 and number of fixed rack segments 1404. Movable racksegments 1402 may be configured to hold equipment 1403, while number offixed rack segments 1404 may be configured to hold equipment 1405.Equipment 1403 and equipment 1405 may be examples of equipment 412 inFIG. 4.

In this illustrative example, movable rack segments 1402 may have aconfiguration similar to the configuration for movable rack segments 702in FIG. 7. Further, movable rack segments 1402 may be configured to moveindependently of each other in a manner similar to the manner in whichmovable rack segments 702 move in FIG. 7.

In this depicted example, movable rack segments 1402 may be present infirst locations 1406 in equipment bay 426 from FIG. 4 and may bemovable. Number of fixed rack segments 1404 may not be movable. Numberof fixed rack segments 1404 may be present in number of fixed locations1408. Number of fixed locations 1408 and first locations 1406 may beselected such that sufficient clearance is not provided for an operator(not shown) to access number of fixed rack segments 1404. In otherwords, the operator (not shown) may be unable to internally accessequipment 1405 held by number of fixed rack segments 1404 when movablerack segments 1402 are present in first locations 1406.

Movable rack segments 1402 may move away from first locations 1406independently of each other by translation mechanism 1410. Translationmechanism 1410 may be implemented using, for example, withoutlimitation, translation mechanism 326 in FIG. 3.

In this illustrative example, without limitation, any of movable racksegments 1402 may be moved from a location in first locations 1406 to alocation in second locations 1412 in equipment bay 426 in FIG. 4.Movement of a particular movable rack segment in movable rack segments1402 may provide internal access 1414 to at least a portion of equipment1403 held by the particular movable segment and/or various portions ofequipment 1403 held by other movable rack segments in movable racksegments 1402.

Further, movement of one or more of movable rack segments 1402 away fromfirst locations 1406 may provide internal access 1414 to at least aportion of equipment 1405 held by number of fixed rack segments 1404when sufficient clearance is provided between first locations 1406 andnumber of fixed locations 1408.

In this illustrative example, barrier structure 1416 may be associatedwith rack 1401. Barrier structure 1416 may be implemented in a mannersimilar to the manner described for barrier structure 722 in FIG. 7.

With reference now to FIG. 15, an illustration of a translating racksystem in an equipment bay is depicted in accordance with anadvantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, translating racksystem 520 from FIGS. 5-13 is depicted as having rack 1500. Rack 1500may have a different configuration than rack 800 in FIG. 8. Inparticular, rack 1500 may have configuration 1400 from FIG. 14.

In this illustrative example, rack 1500 may have movable rack segment1502, movable rack segment 1504, and movable rack segment 1506 locatedin equipment bay 514. Additionally, rack 1500 also may have fixed racksegment 1508 in equipment bay 514. Movable rack segment 1502 may be inlocation 1503. Movable rack segment 1504 may be in location 1505.Movable rack segment 1506 may be in location 1507. Fixed rack segment1508 may be in location 1509. Movable rack segment 1502, movable racksegment 1504, and movable rack segment 1506 may move independently ofeach other and with respect to fixed rack segment 1508.

Equipment 1510 may be held in movable rack segment 1502, equipment 1512may be held in movable rack segment 1504, and equipment 1514 may be heldin movable rack segment 1506. Further, equipment 1516 may be held infixed rack segment 1508. In this illustrative example, barrier structure1520 also may be associated with rack 1500. In particular, barrierstructure 1520 may have part 1522, part 1524, and part 1526 associatedwith movable rack segment 1502, movable rack segment 1504, and movablerack segment 1506, respectively. Barrier structure 1520 may separateequipment bay 514 from cargo area 602 in this illustrative example.

Turning now to FIGS. 16-19, illustrations of different types ofmovements of one or more of movable rack segments 1502, 1504, and 1506in rack 1500 from FIG. 15 are depicted in accordance with anadvantageous embodiment.

In FIG. 16, movable rack segment 1502 has been moved in the direction ofarrow 1600. As depicted, movable rack segment 1502 may be moved fromlocation 1503 in equipment bay 514 to location 1602 in cargo area 602.This movement may provide access to movable rack segment 1502 andequipment 1510 in movable rack segment 1502.

In particular, this movement may provide access at side 1604 and/or side1606 of movable rack segment 1502. Access at side 1606 may be internalaccess. Access at side 1604 may be internal and/or external access,depending on distance 1608 between wall 826 of fuselage 506 and side1604 of movable rack segment 1502. Depending on distance 1610, internalaccess may also be provided to side 1605 of movable rack segment 1502and/or side 1612 of movable rack segment 1504.

Additionally, internal access also may be provided to a portion of fixedrack segment 1508 and a portion of equipment 1516 in fixed rack segment1508 when movable rack segment 1502 is moved out of location 1503.

Turning now to FIG. 17, movable rack segment 1504 has been moved in thedirection of arrow 1700. Movable rack segment 1504 may be moved fromlocation 1505 in equipment bay 514 to location 1702 in cargo area 602.Movement of movable rack segment 1504 to location 1702 may provideinternal access to movable rack segment 1504 and equipment 1512 inmovable rack segment 1504 at side 1612 and/or side 1704 of movable racksegment 1504. Further, depending on distance 1708, internal access mayalso be provided to side 1710 of movable rack segment 1504, side 1606 ofmovable rack segment 1502, and/or side 1712 of movable rack segment1506.

Additionally, internal access may be provided to a portion of equipment1516 in fixed rack segment 1508 when movable rack segment 1504 is movedaway from location 1505.

In FIG. 18, movable rack segment 1502 and movable rack segment 1506 havebeen moved in the direction of arrow 1800. Movable rack segment 1502 maybe moved from location 1503 in equipment bay 514 to location 1602 incargo area 602. Further, movable rack segment 1506 may be moved fromlocation 1507 in equipment bay 514 to location 1802 in cargo area 602.

Access to movable rack segment 1502 and/or equipment 1510 in movablerack segment 1502 may be provided at side 1604 and/or at side 1606 asdiscussed before. Further, access may be provided to movable racksegment 1506 at side 1804 and/or at side 1712 of movable rack segment1506. The access at side 1804 may be internal and/or external access,depending on distance 1808 between wall 828 of fuselage 506 and side1804 of movable rack segment 1506. The access at side 1802 may beinternal access.

Further, depending on distance 1610 and/or distance 1810, internalaccess may also be provided to side 1605 of movable rack segment 1502,side 1812 of movable rack segment 1506, side 1704 of movable racksegment 1504, and/or side 1612 of movable rack segment 1504.

Additionally, internal access may be provided to different portions ofequipment 1516 in fixed rack segment 1508 when movable rack segment 1502is moved away from location 1503 and movable rack segment 1506 is movedaway from location 1507.

Referring now to FIG. 19, movable rack segment 1504 and movable racksegment 1506 have been moved in the direction of arrow 1900. Inparticular, movable rack segment 1504 may be moved from location 1505 inequipment bay 514 to location 1702 in cargo area 602. Movable racksegment 1506 may be moved from location 1507 in equipment bay 514 tolocation 1802 in cargo area 602.

Movement of movable rack segment 1504 may provide internal access atside 1612 of movable rack segment 1504. Further, internal and/orexternal access may be provided at side 1804 of movable rack segment1506 when movable rack segment 1506 is moved into location 1802,depending on distance 1808. However, in this illustrative example,movement of movable rack segment 1504 and/or movable rack segment 1506may not provide internal access at side 1712 of movable rack segment1506 and/or at side 1704 of movable rack segment 1504.

Depending on distance 1708 and/or distance 1810, internal access may beprovided to side 1710 of movable rack segment 1504, side 1606 of movablerack segment 1502, and/or side 1812 of movable rack segment 1506.Additionally, internal access may be provided to a portion of equipment1516 in fixed rack segment 1508 when movable rack segment 1504 and/ormovable rack segment 1506 are moved.

With reference now to FIG. 20, a cross-sectional view of a translatingrack system in an equipment bay is depicted in accordance with anadvantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, translating racksystem 520 in equipment bay 514 is shown in a cross-sectional view takenalong lines 20-20 in FIG. 15. This may be a cross-sectional view lookingtowards equipment bay 514 in this example.

Further, in this view, movable rack segments 1502, 1504, and 1506 fortranslating rack system 520 are illustrated without barrier structure1520 in FIG. 15 associated with movable rack segments 1502, 1504, and1506. In other words, parts 1522, 1524, and 1526 are not depicted asbeing associated with movable rack segments 1502, 1504, and 1506 in thisview.

As depicted in this example, translating rack system 520 may includetranslation mechanism 2000. Translation mechanism 2000 may have numberof movement devices 2002. Number of movement devices 2002 may comprisewheels 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014.

Wheel 2004 and wheel 2006 may be associated with movable rack segment1502. Wheel 2008 and wheel 2010 may be associated with movable racksegment 1504. Wheel 2012 and wheel 2014 may be associated with movablerack segment 1506. Wheels 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014 mayallow movable rack segments 1502, 1504, and 1506 to move on cargo floor1305 of cargo deck 600 of aircraft 500.

Additionally, barrier stops 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024, 2026, 2028,2030, and 2032 may be present. Barrier stops 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022,2024, 2026, 2028, 2030, and 2032 may limit movement of movable racksegments 1502, 1504, and 1506 into cargo area 602 in FIG. 15. Further,barrier stops 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024, 2026, 2028, 2030, and 2032may prevent cargo (not shown) that may be in cargo bay 602 in FIG. 15from entering equipment bay 514.

As illustrated, barrier stops 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2026 maybe associated with ceiling 2034 of cargo deck 600. Barrier stops 2028,2030, and 2032 may be associated with cargo floor 1305 of cargo deck600.

With reference now to FIG. 21, an illustration of a cross-sectional sideview of a translating rack system in an equipment bay of an aircraft isdepicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. In thisillustrative example, translating rack system 520 having rack 1500 fromFIG. 15 may be depicted taken along lines 21-21 in FIG. 20. In thisillustrative example, barrier structure 1520 may be illustratedassociated with rack 1500. In particular, part 1526 of barrier structure1520 may be seen attached to movable rack segment 1506 in thisillustrative example. Further, wheel 2012 for translation mechanism 2000in FIG. 20 may be seen along with wheel 2106.

As depicted, movable rack segment 1506 may be configured to move withinequipment bay 514 relative to fixed rack segment 1508 in a directionalong axis 2100. Movable rack segment 1506 and fixed rack segment 1508may be connected to connector system 2102 comprising rack attachmentcable 2104. Rack attachment cable 2104 may be configured to providepower, data, communications, and/or cooling to rack 1500, equipment1516, and/or equipment 1514.

As depicted, movement of movable rack segment 1506 in the direction ofarrow 2110 may cause part 1526 to contact barrier stop 2026 and barrierstop 2032. Barrier stop 2026 and barrier stop 2032 may prevent part 1526associated with movable rack segment 1506 from moving past barrier stop2026 and barrier stop 2032. In this manner, movable rack segment 1506may not be allowed to come into direct contact with fixed rack segment1508.

The illustration of rack 1500 in FIGS. 15-22 is an illustrative exampleof a physical implementation for rack 1401 shown in block form in FIG.14. These illustrations are not meant to imply physical or architecturelimitations to the manner in which an advantageous embodiment may beimplemented. Other components in addition to and/or in place of the onesillustrated may be used. Some components may be unnecessary in someadvantageous embodiments.

For example, in some advantageous embodiments, rack 1500 may not havefixed rack segment 1508. In still other advantageous embodiments,additional movement devices may be present in translation mechanism 2000in addition to wheels 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014.

With reference now to FIG. 22, an illustration of a cross-sectional viewof a translating rack system is depicted in accordance with anadvantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, translating racksystem 2200 is an example of one implementation for translating racksystem 314 in FIG. 3.

As depicted, translating rack system 2200 may comprise rack 2202 andtranslation mechanisms 2204, 2206, and 2208. Rack 2202 may comprisemovable rack segments 2210, 2212, and 2214, which are configured to holdcomponents 2216.

Translation mechanism 2204 comprises motor 2218 and track system 2220.Translation mechanism 2206 comprises motor 2222 and track system 2224.Translation mechanism 2208 comprises motor 2226 and track system 2228.

Motor 2218 may be configured to turn a number of gears (not shown) suchthat movable rack segment 2210 may be moved along track system 2220along axis 2230. Further, motor 2222 may be configured to turn a numberof gears (not shown) such that movable rack segment 2212 may be movedalong track system 2224 along axis 2232. Motor 2226 may be configured toturn a number of gears (not shown) such that movable rack segment 2214may be moved along track system 2228 along axis 2234.

With reference now to FIG. 23, an illustration of a flowchart of aprocess for accessing components is depicted in accordance with anadvantageous embodiment. The process illustrated in FIG. 23 may beimplemented using translating rack system 314 in equipment accessenvironment 300 in FIG. 3.

The process may begin by identifying portion 332 of components 322 beingheld in rack 320 for which internal access 330 is desired (operation2300). Rack 320 may be configured to hold components 322 and maycomprise movable rack segments 324 that may be movable independently ofeach other in rack 320. Rack 320 may be a compartment in compartments306 in platform 302 in equipment access environment 300.

The process may then move portion 328 of movable rack segments 324holding portion 332 of components 322 inside platform 302 such thatinternal access 330 to at least portion 332 of components 322 may beprovided inside platform 302 (operation 2302), with the processterminating thereafter. In operation 2302, movable rack segments 324 maybe moved using translation mechanism 326.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the different depicted embodimentsillustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of somepossible implementations of apparatus and methods in differentadvantageous embodiments. In this regard, each block in the flowchart orblock diagrams may represent a module, a segment, a function, and/or aportion of an operation or step. For example, one or more of the blocksmay be implemented as program code, in hardware, or a combination of theprogram code and hardware. When implemented in hardware, the hardwaremay, for example, take the form of integrated circuits that aremanufactured or configured to perform one or more operations in theflowchart or block diagrams.

In some alternative implementations, the function or functions noted inthe block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example,in some cases, two blocks shown in succession may be executedsubstantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed inthe reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. Also,other blocks may be added in addition to the illustrated blocks in aflowchart or block diagram.

Thus, the different advantageous embodiments provide an apparatus andmethod for providing internal access to components inside a platform. Inone advantageous embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a rack and atranslation mechanism. The rack may be configured to hold components.The rack may comprise movable rack segments that are movableindependently of each other in the rack. The translation mechanism maybe configured to move a portion of the movable rack segments inside aplatform such that internal access to at least a portion of thecomponents is provided inside the platform.

In this manner, the different advantageous embodiments may provide asystem for providing internal access to components located in anequipment bay (e.g., electrical equipment) in an aircraft withoutrequiring additional space in the equipment bay for this access.Furthermore, movement of movable rack segments holding the componentsfrom the equipment bay into a cargo area may allow an operator to accessthe components from inside the aircraft as compared to outside theaircraft. As a result, advantageously, a volume of space required foroperation of an aircraft (e.g., typical electrical equipment) is reduced(more compact packing density) to allow for addition cargo volume.

Furthermore, the advantageous embodiments provide for dual-use of maindeck, cargo back area, and surrounding areas since the area for accessand to work on can be a dual usage area surrounded by test equipment. Inone example, test equipment (electrical equipment) may be individuallypulled into the cargo area or the main deck to gain access to the testequipment. Furthermore, the movable rack segments provide individuals ormechanics the ability to remove and/or install equipment with minimalcoordination or extra personnel (e.g., elimination of the requirement ofthree or four persons to remove a 115 lb. box or a crane hook, forinstance, running on a dedicated track to complete the removal process).

As such, principles of these advantageous embodiments reduce the numberof personnel (e.g., engineers) needed on board to maintain electricalequipment. As a consequence, time for trouble shooting of electricalequipment is reduced when involving equipment removal. Furthermore, themovable rack segments provide for movement of boxes, components, orracks with minimal damage during a maintenance or trouble shootingprocess.

The description of the different advantageous embodiments has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description and is notintended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments in the formdisclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art. Further, different advantageousembodiments may provide different advantages as compared to otheradvantageous embodiments. The embodiment or embodiments selected arechosen and described in order to best explain the principles of theembodiments, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinaryskill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodimentswith various modifications as are suited to the particular usecontemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for accessing components inside acompartment of an aircraft, the method comprising: identifying a portionof the components for which internal access is desired in which a rackis configured to hold the components and comprises movable rack segmentsthat are movable independently of each other in the rack; and using atranslation mechanism, moving a portion of the movable rack segmentsrelative to another portion of the moveable rack segments inside thecompartment of the aircraft such that the internal access to at leastthe portion of the components identified is provided inside thecompartment of the aircraft; wherein the rack and the translationmechanism are located inside an equipment bay in the compartment of theaircraft; and wherein movement of the portion of the moveable racksegments relative to the another portion of the movable rack segmentsinside the compartment of the aircraft moves the portion of the moveablerack segments into another area inside the compartment of the aircraftother than the equipment bay.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thetranslation mechanism comprises at least one of wheels, rollers,sliders, tracks, arms, and rails associated with the rack.
 3. The methodof claim 1, wherein the step of moving the portion of the movable racksegments inside the compartment of the aircraft such that the internalaccess to the at least the portion of the components identified isprovided inside the compartment of the aircraft comprises: moving aportion of a number of movement devices connected to the movable racksegments to cause movement of the portion of the movable rack segmentsinside the compartment of the aircraft such that the movable racksegments move independently of each other and such that the internalaccess to the at least the portion of the components identified isprovided inside the compartment of the aircraft.
 4. The method of claim1, wherein the portion of the movable rack segments is moved such thatexternal access to the at least the portion of the components isprovided outside of the compartment of the aircraft.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the step of moving the portion of the movable racksegments inside the compartment of the aircraft such that the internalaccess to the at least the portion of the components identified isprovided inside the compartment of the aircraft comprises: moving theportion of the movable rack segments from an equipment bay in thecompartment of the aircraft in which the rack is located into anotherarea inside the compartment of the aircraft other than the equipment baysuch that the internal access to the at least the portion of thecomponents identified is provided in the another area inside thecompartment of the aircraft.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein astructure associated with the rack is configured to separate anequipment bay in which the rack is located from another area in thecompartment of the aircraft and provides a barrier configured to preventcargo in the another area from moving into the equipment bay.
 7. Amethod for accessing components inside a compartment of an aircraft, themethod comprising: identifying a portion of the components for whichinternal access is desired in which a rack located in an equipment bayin the aircraft is configured to hold the components and comprisesmovable rack segments that are movable independently of each other inthe rack and in which a structure associated with the rack is configuredto separate the equipment bay in which the rack is located from anotherarea in the compartment of the aircraft and provide a barrier configuredto prevent cargo in the another area from moving into the equipment bay;and using a translation mechanism, moving a portion of the movable racksegments relative to another portion of the moveable rack segmentsinside the compartment of the aircraft from the equipment bay into theanother area inside the aircraft other than the equipment bay such thatthe internal access to at least the portion of the components identifiedis provided in the another area inside the compartment of the aircraft;wherein the rack and the translation mechanism are located inside theequipment bay in the compartment of the aircraft; and wherein movementof the portion of the moveable rack segments relative to the anotherportion of the movable rack segments inside the compartment of theaircraft moves the portion of the moveable rack segments into theanother area inside the compartment other than the equipment bay.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, wherein a connector system attached to the movablerack segments remains connected to the movable rack segments when theportion of the movable rack segments inside the compartment of theaircraft is moved such that the internal access to the at least theportion of the components is provided inside the compartment of theaircraft.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the connector systemcomprises a rack attachment cable to transport one or more of data,electricity, and cooling.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the rackattachment cable comprises a flexible cable or a semi-flexible cable.11. The method of claim 10, wherein the rack comprises a rack segmentthat comprises a frame configured to hold one or more of the components.12. The method of claim 11, wherein the frame comprises a core that is ametallic core.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the core is hollow toallow the rack attachment cable to be installed within the core.
 14. Themethod of claim 7, wherein a connector system attached to the movablerack segments remains connected to the movable rack segments when theportion of the movable rack segments inside the compartment of theaircraft is moved such that the internal access to the at least theportion of the components is provided inside the compartment of theaircraft.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the connector systemcomprises a rack attachment cable to transport one or more of data,electricity, and cooling.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the rackattachment cable comprises a flexible cable or a semi-flexible cable.17. The method of claim 16, wherein the rack comprises a rack segmentthat comprises a frame configured to hold one or more of the components.18. The method of claim 17, wherein the frame comprises a core that is ametallic core; and wherein the core is hollow to allow the rackattachment cable to be installed within the core.
 19. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the rack attachment cable comprises a rigid cable. 20.The method of claim 15, wherein the rack attachment cable comprises arigid cable.